Extreme events and climate adaptation‐mitigation linkages: Understanding low‐carbon transitions in the era of global urbanization

Abstract

It has become increasingly clear that cities will have to simultaneously undertake both adaptation and mitigation in response to accelerating climate change and the growing demands for meaningful climate action. Here we examine the connections between climate mitigation and climate adaptation, specifically, between low‐carbon energy systems and extreme events. The article specifically addresses the question, how do responses to extreme climate risks enhance or limit capacity to promote city‐level greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation? As a step toward answering this question, we present a framework for considering windows of opportunity that may arise as a result of extreme events and how these windows can be exploited to foster development and implementation of low‐carbon energy strategies. Four brief case studies are used to provide empirical background and determine the impact of potential windows of opportunity. Some general conclusions are defined. In particular, the existing energy system structure is an important determinant of impact and potential for energy transitions. Well‐developed and articulated governance strategies and ready access of effective and economically efficient alternative energy technology were key to transitions. However, prospects for inequity in development and implementation of low‐carbon solutions need to be considered. Finally, exploiting windows of opportunity afforded by extreme events for developing low‐carbon economy and infrastructure also can provide resilience against those very events. These types of responses will be needed as extreme events increase in frequency and magnitude in the future, with cities as primary sites of impact and action. This article is categorized under: Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Learning from Cases and Analogies

Analysis of Spatiotemporal Variability in Extreme Climate and Potential Driving Factors on the Yunnan Plateau (Southwest China) during 1960–2019

“…By 2065, the increased temperature will have increased by 2-3 • C in Asia [4]. This will significantly increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events [5]. Extreme weather events are defined as historically rare meteorological events that occur in a certain area over a certain period, usually with a probability of less than 5% or 10% [6,7].…”

From federal transfers and local investments to a potential convergence of COVID-19 and climate change: The case study of São Paulo city

“…Actually, the threat of a long period of drought in southeastern region ( Mello et al., 2021 ) comes at distinguished time, when demand for more urban smartness advances ( Ahvenniemi and Huovila, 2019 ) and nature-based solutions ( Young et al., 2019 ; Shorfuzzaman, Shamim Hossain, Mohammed, & Alhamid, 2021 ) is increasingly expanding ( Solecki et al., 2019 ). This demand requires additional attention to DRR to meet investment ( Solecki et al., 2019 ; Bello et al., 2021 ). It was distressing to think about the financial support that Brazilian hospitals needed during the peak of the pandemic and did not receive from the federal government ( Alves, 2021 ).…”

Positive Futures

“…However, regardless of how motivating the positive futures are, alone, they are generally not sufficient for catalyzing transformational change; they need to be incorporated into dissemination and implementation programs. In some cases, "windows of opportunities" can arise when a positive vision of a sustainability transition has been developed prior to a disaster, and its uptake is enabled by the disaster (Birkmann et al 2010;Brundiers and Eakin 2018;Solecki et al 2019). The central goal of this emerging urban systems science, however, should be to guide and facilitate anticipatory change without loss to human well-being, ecological integrity, and critical infrastructure.…”